On Holiday
A/N: This is a companion piece to my Pirates series, and a random drabble I came up with based on how I think Jacki would spend Mother's Day. I plan to do a second chapter for this on how she and Jack celebrate Father's Day.
The sun is shining, and the weather's getting warmer. If I was lucky I'd be home in Tortuga, and I'd be happy. I'd be with Mum, and she'd be alive.
I can still remember this day three years ago. I snuck into the kitchen of the tavern we called home before the drunkards awoke and cooked her breakfast. The sun wasn't up yet and neither was she. I brought it to her in bed. She was so excited. She told me I was the greatest daughter any mother could ask for. I made her take the day off and enjoy her holiday, and told her I'd see if I could work serving in the tavern to make up for the money. That's how the arrangement started. I was lucky the owner took pity on me and let me continue to work for him after Mum died.
I contemplate all the times I spent with my mother when my father enters the cabin. I'm sitting on my cot in silence, swinging my feet back and forth.
"Somethin' wrong, Love?" He sits next to me.
"Nothing that can be fixed." His brow furrows. "I'm thinking about Mum. It's Mother's Day."
He strokes my hair. "Ahh. "I'm sorry, Darlin'." He pulls me into his arms and I rest my head on his chest, wrapping my arms around him. The stray dreadlocks laying over his shoulder tickle my face.
"I've got an idea. We're a day's time away from Tortuga. What say you to a trip home? We can visit her, if ye like." I look up at him and smile.
"Thanks, Daddy." I hug him tightly. He smiles and sends me to do my chores.
o.0.o.0.o
We arrive by nightfall and disembark. The rest of the crew head straight for the tavern, but Daddy and I set out for the cemetery. I lead him to her grave. There's nothing but a small, simple marker to distinguish her plot from the rest. I didn't have enough money to get her a nicer, decorated headstone.
It's become overgrown since I joined the crew of The Pearl and haven't been able to take care of it. I pluck the over grown grass from around the marker. I find some wild flowers nearby, and place them on her grave. Daddy watches in silence.
I sit by her grave and just think for a bit. "I did it, Mum." I say conversationally. "I'm part of Daddy's crew now and I'm happy." I smile bitterly. "I miss you." The tears begin to flow now and I can't stop them. I keep my eyes on her grave in an attempt to keep Daddy from seeing that I'm crying. I steal a glance at him and he's looking away.
We stay like this for a bit longer but it's getting late and Daddy looks like he needs a drink, so we head for the tavern. We spend the rest of the night docked in Tortuga, and set out early the next morning, heading for the horizon.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review!